GOLDEN, Colo. (Mar. 17, 2020) – As of yesterday evening, CDC guidance has shifted to recommend that all Americans “avoid discretionary travel” for the next 15 days (through April 1). In addition, the New Mexico Department of Health is now recommending that all individuals who have traveled outside of the state self-isolate immediately upon arrival/return to New Mexico for 14 days.
CDTC urges anyone considering a trip of any length on the Continental Divide Trail to follow these recommendations. If the CDT passes through or within a short distance of your community, and local trail conditions and your own skillset are such that you can safely access the trail, it continues to be a great place to practice social distancing, enjoy our public lands, and get some exercise and fresh air. Otherwise, we urge you to stay home and enjoy your local trails and outdoor spaces.
In light of these new recommendations, we will be ceasing operations of our Southern Terminus Shuttle and water caching in southern New Mexico until April 17.
Those who have already booked a shuttle before April 17 have several options. Please email [email protected] to alert us of your plans, regardless of which option you choose. Direct shuttle booking on our website will be shut down so that our staff can more easily manage rebookings.
- Rebook your shuttle for a date later in the spring season by emailing [email protected] with your full name, current shuttle date, and a list of any and all dates between April 17 and May 17 that will work for your schedule.
- Postpone your shuttle to the fall of 2020 or any time in 2021 at no charge. CDTC will not require you to provide a specific date for rebooking at this time.
- Cancel your shuttle and donate all or a part of your shuttle fee to CDTC. Any donation you can make to support our work at this time is greatly appreciated.
- Cancel your shuttle and receive a full refund.
CDTC will continue to urge all CDT users to follow all guidance from the CDC and state and local public health departments along the CDT. Please note that if the current CDC and NMDOH orders are extended, and/or new, more restrictive guidelines are put into place, we may have to cancel the Southern Terminus Shuttle for all spring 2020 dates.
CDTC is doing all that we can to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers, and trailside communities as this situation continues to develop. For those of you who are concerned about the economic well-being of trailside communities that depend on CDT users, we are currently developing a list of resources for those who wish to assist those communities from afar.
Further updates can be found on our Trail Closures & Notices page. Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or at 720.340.2768 (8-4 MT M-F) or with any questions or concerns. Email is preferable at this time due to the volume of calls we are receiving.
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About the Continental Divide Trail
The CDT is one of the world’s premiere long-distance trails, stretching 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada along the Continental Divide. Designated by Congress in 1978, the CDT is the highest, most challenging and most remote of the 11 National Scenic Trails. It provides recreational opportunities ranging from hiking to horseback riding to hunting for thousands of visitors each year. While 95% of the CDT is located on public land, approximately 150 miles are still in need of protection.
About the Continental Divide Trail Coalition
The CDTC was founded in 2012 by volunteers and recreationists hoping to provide a unified voice for the Trail. Working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Forest Service and other federal land management agencies, the CDTC is a non-profit partner supporting stewardship of the CDT. The mission of the CDTC is to complete, promote and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, a world-class national resource. For more information, please visit continentaldividetrail.org.
